The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, and a Very Interesting Boy. By Jeanne Birdsall. Knopf, 2005. 272 pages. Tr. 15.95 ISBN 978-0-375-83143-0
Summary: The motherless Penderwick sisters – Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty – are spending their summer at a Massachusetts cottage with their botany-loving father. Over the summer they develop a warm friendship with Jeffrey, their landlord’s son. Jeffrey dreams of becoming a concert pianist, unfortunately his mother has other plans for him; she wants him to attend military college, as her father did. Mrs. Tifton doesn’t approve of her son playing with these girls, preferring that he play with those from his own class. Will the children be allowed to play with each other, and can the Pendericks save Jeffrey from military school?
Critical Review: It is not until the end of the novel that Mrs. Tifton finally listens to her son’s feelings and can empathize with him. She eventually approves of Jeffrey’s desire to attend a Massachusetts boarding school and enroll in some music classes. For the Penderwick girls, the summer is a time of immense growth. The Penderwicks defend their family when under attack by Mrs. Tifton. Their relationship with their father is a direct contrast to Mrs. Tifton’s relationship with Jeffrey. Mr. Penderwick subscribes to a parenting philosophy, which places a premium on children’s freedom to explore whatever topic is of interest to them. Each girl cultivates a particular talent. Skye brought a mathematics book along with her to the cottage, and Skye, the author, is working on her Emily Starr series. Batty, the youngest, pretends that she’s a fairy, and holds a deep appreciation for animals. Rosalind takes on the role of Batty’s main caretaker, and dreams of the day when Cagney, the groundskeeper will fall in love with her. Rosalind’s feelings take a perceptive plunge, however, when she realizes that Cagney already has a girlfriend. Cagney’s goodbye lightens her mood, making her realize that though she has a lot of maturing left, Cagney appreciates her conversational abilities. Above all, The Penderwicks is a moving story that children eight through twelve-years will covet. It is a wonderful read-aloud choice.
Genre: Realistic Fiction; Friendship
Reading/Interest Level: 8-12 years
Awards: National Book Award, 2005; School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, 2005; American Library Association Notable Books for Children, 2006
Reviews: Publisher’s Weekly (2005, July 25); School Library Journal (2005, July 1); Booklist (2005, April 1)
Series: The Penderwick Series
Similar Materials: Lesley M. M. Blume’s Cornelia and the Audacious Escapades of the Somerset Sisters
Subjects/Themes: summer vacations; cottages; friendships; dreams; career-goals; mathematics; science; botany; Latin; rabbits; dogs; musician; pianists; boarding schools; single-parent families; sisters
Character Names: Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty Penderwick; Mr. Penderwick; Jeffrey Tifton; Mrs. Tifton; Dexter; Cagney; Churchie
Brief Annotation: Four sisters summer in a Massuchesetts cottage with their father, and develop a lasting friendship with their landlords son,.
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